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Patterns
Patterns, or tul in Korean, form an important aspect of training in Tae Kwon-Do.
They are equivalent to the kata in karate. The majority of the patterns (except Yul-Gok, Ul-Ji and Tong-Il) start
with a defensive move, which emphasizes Tae Kwon-Do's defensive nature. All of the patterns start and end at the same location.
This ensures that the practitioners' stances are the correct length, width, and in the proper direction.
There are 24 patterns in the official ITF syllabus; this is symbolic of the 24 hours in a day. The names of these patterns
typically refer either to events in Korean history or to important people in Korean history. Elements of the patterns may
also be historical references, such as the number of moves, the diagram, the way the pattern ends, and so on.
Patterns (tul) are performed in accordance with "The Encyclopedia of Taekwon-Do" in 15 volumes written
by General Choi Hong Hi, the latest edition being from 1999. This comprehensive work contains 15 volumes with
volumes 8 through 15 dedicated to the 24 patterns and containing descriptions of the pattern movements
as well as pictures showing possible applications of some of the movements. There is also the book
entitled "The Korean Art of Self Defense" (the 1999 edition, the latest used by ITF under
Grandmaster Tran and ITF under Grandmaster Choi, or the 2004 edition, the latest used by ITF under Chang Ung),
also known as the Condensed Encyclopedia, written by General Choi Hong Hi. This is a single condensed
encyclopedia of approximately 770 pages with a section dedicated to the 24 patterns.
Fundamental Moves
Patterns
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